An Ode to Cafe
BY: LILA WHEELOCK
Through the cold, we find our way,
For warm sandwiches to start the day
Iced tea, stories, laughter flow,
A friendly place where bonds will grow
The café workers know us well,
They greet us with smiles and then a fresh coffee smell,
Regardless of the winter weather,
Holderness students love to walk downtown together
Always worth it, rain or sleet,
Our café’s charm is hard to beat
As the long-awaited winter season has begun, the temperatures do not seem to be dropping As a skier–and I am sure other skiers agree–this is frustrating It is evident that climate change is impacting our winters, but are they being taken away this quickly? The past couple of winters have not been up to our standards; two winters ago, we finally saw lots of snow in March,
when ski season was coming to a close Will this be the season that breaks this pattern?
A key predictor of our ski season is La Niña There are two climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean, El Niño and La Niña During El Niño, the trade winds weaken and cause warmer waters these water temperatures cause the north to become drier and warmer than usual In
BY: JADE WIGGINS
retrospect, this is what us skiers do not want According to Boston 25 News, we can expect a season of “rapid-fire storms that will bring both rain and snow, with little downtime in between ” It also claims we will feel the effects of a La Niña year, though they might be weak So, compared to last year, we should expect a bit more snow, but those warmer days will still bring
rain This snow occurred in early December Now we should expect heavy snowfall in mid-February, and early March–hopefully in time for OB For the skiers, unfortunately, it will be a wetter winter, but there will be some snowy and cold spells throughout the season
Thankfully we can expect more snow than last year But let’s not get ahead of ourselves
PHOTO BY PETE REMINGTON
YOU’VE GOT MAIL
In charge of all the letters and packages, Len Thompson is a true epitome of what Holderness strives to be as a community Hardworking, kind and selfless Lenny always greets students with a huge smile and a cheerful “Hi!” Len Thompson started his career here in December of 1995, originally also helping with floor maintenance before everything was carpeted and “before there were so many packages to handle” He describes his favorite part of
BY: MAEVE RHATIGAN
his job as seeing people happy, “If I can be a part, that makes me happy too!” Lenny understands the timeless joy of the somewhat lost form of communication through packages and letters and helps to bring that joy to others His inspiration he says is “working in a very friendly place and a beautiful setting!! There are many wonderful people to work with, for and around at Holderness but by far, it’s the students that make the place
hop! Duh! They are the spirit, the lifeblood and the reason for Holderness” Lastly Lenny wanted to make sure he added a “THANK YOU” to the loading dock job crews and leaders who are a “Godsend”, illustrating once again his selflessness and community love We would like to say a big thank you to Lenny for all the help he does for our community and keeping our packages safe His welcoming attitude helps Holderness shine
Poetry Out Loud
BY: RIO GLADCHUN
Every year, students at Holderness take the stage for Poetry Out Loud, a nationwide competition that challenges participants to bring poetry to life through recitation But what makes a performance truly compelling? Is it raw memorization, or does a deeper understanding of the poem ’ s meaning set certain reciters apart? The traditional approach to the school wide competition is to choose a poem, and then commit each line, word, and punctuation to memory Others will follow the road less traveled by, taking the time to annotate, research, and truly understand the purpose of the poem they have selected Not to say that this responsibility falls entirely on the student, usually those that research their poems do so as to follow their class curriculum
However, is it important to your performance that you engage with your poem on a deeper level, or is scratching the surface with just memorization enough to do the trick?
For those readers that have taken AP Comp, you are familiar with the SOAPSTone process; Speaker, Occasion, Audience, Purpose, Subject, and Tone Taking these components of analysis into account, it is becoming increasingly evident that understanding the goal of your poem and the author's background that allows them to successfully convey said “goal”, may be what sets any reciter apart from the competition Or does over-analysis make the poem less raw, or instinctive?
PHOTO BY MAX PARO
Swimming In Ambiguity
BY: TANNER SNYDER
Insufficient, inadequate, and unqualified Sufficient, adequate, and qualified This is the constant stream of consciousness occurring within every senior's mind throughout the college process Whirlwinds of advice from parents, relatives, and peers leave me questioning my sanity In the past, I have flowed through the school year thankful to be where I am with little thought about my future Unfortunately that “cruise coasting” reality came to a halt approaching my senior summer The college search sparked a newfound prioritization of values I found important Not to say that I conformed to what colleges look for; rather, I took a deep dive into what the future holds for me As frustrating as the college process can be, I am thankful for the opportunity to reassess my ideals
I believe the real difficulty is in the anticipation of college decisions There is no explanation as to what the future holds, and no longer a person to hold your hand every step of the way Within the next few weeks, I will have heard back from many of my choices and those decisions seem daunting Over a month ago, I practically sent colleges my life, summarizing my 6,670 days into approximately 3,000 words to answer the epitomizing question, “Am I good enough?” Although being admitted is based on hundreds of factors, getting denied from a school you have pictured yourself at for months is disconcerting at best
Concert Wrap-Up
BY: NOAH KASSELS AND TRISTAN GERASIN
Mr Cosby and multiple students and music classes worked hard all fall and pulled off an incredible concert for the school on Tuesday November 19th Here are some highlights and memorable moments from the concert!
JJ Werner and the Guitar Ensemble performing Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes
James Glover playing trumpet n the Music Ensemble I/II class on Havana and Love Me Do
Yirong Wang, Terry Wang, and Tina Zhao performing Memories by Maroon 5 Crawford Cook in his solo
on You’re So Vain by Carly Simon with the rest of the Advanced Music Ensemble
Leon Huang’s original rap song Fall Out Mr Cosby commented “The winter concert was a great success for all of the student musicians involved They worked hard for many weeks to prepare and were ready to play when the downbeat was struck This preparation helped students play through nerves and distraction and, in turn, put the peak performances of their songs in the concert I am so proud of everyone ' s hard work and performance, and it filled my heart with joy to see the students having fun and enjoying the fruits of their labor ”
Berkshire’s Beginnings
BY: MAX MARCUS
In my last column, I spoke of Warren Buffett as one of the greatest investors of all time Known for his remarkable success, down-to-earth common sense, and selfdeprecating humor, Buffett, the “Oracle of Omaha,” is considered a role model by so many At age 26, the Nebraska stockbroker and schoolteacher took his “retirement fund” of $174,000 and decided to start his own investment business This bold move set the stage for his future success Two decades later, he was a billionaire Here is the story In 1962, Buffett started investing in
Berkshire Hathaway, a large but troubled textile manufacturing company in New Bedford, Massachusetts
In what he would later call his “dumbest” stock purchase ever, Buffett ultimately took control of Berkshire in 1965 Buffett says the “cheap” stock price and company potential motivated his decision He failed to consider, however, that the company ’ s only business was textiles, a declining industry at that time For the next two decades, the textile business struggled, leading Buffett and his longstanding partner, Charlie Munger (who passed away in 2023),
to shift their strategy from textiles to investment and acquisitions By buying undervalued stocks in troubled companies across various sectors and industries, then acquiring the companies and turning them around, the duo built Berkshire Hathaway (BRKB) into the world's largest holding company The team at Berkshire oversees around 50 stocks Principal holdings include well-known companies like Apple (AAPL), American Express (AXP), Coca-Cola (KO), Bank of America (BAC), Chevron (CVX), Citigroup (C), Kraft Heinz (KHC), and Occidental Petroleum (OXY)
PHOTOS BY MAX PARO
FRIEND OR FOE?
BY: JADE WIGGINS
tt’s that time of the year; you suddenly cannot trust your closest friends, Weld feels so far when walking alone, and you never know who will be around the corner Every year Holderness students play Assassin, which consists of students on campus getting different targets and having to tag them out The game is a great way to meet new people and for the community to bond, but there is a dark side to the game Us Holderness students like to buy into events on campus: sports games, dorm wars, and more; Assassin is another way for us to
get engaged Suddenly you are linking arms with people who you have not talked to before to not get killed Although it is a great way to build connections and trust with new people, that same trust can be lost so quickly As the game is coming to a close soon with only the different pod winners playing now, I would like to share a specific pod win Starting in Connell, Lila Wheelock was looking like she was going to bring home the gold She had some great wins, chasing people around Weld, getting people out while they brought back their
laundry from Livermore, and hiding in the eerie basement of Weld waiting to strike As she continued to advance in her pod, others were too Lissa King was making great progress, she knew that if she were to get her next target out, her final one would be Lila Both competitors were sure they would win, but only one would stand As Lissa plotted a way to get Lila out, different ideas struck Would she get her after a class? Leaving from Weld? But she decided to get her where she wouldn’t expect it, her own dorm One evening, Lila was hanging out
in her room when sophomore Riley Davis came into her room Riley simply said, “Lila I need your help ” Riley seeming a bit worried and sad, Lila quickly jumped to action and followed Riley out to the hallway, only to find Lissa During this intense moment, I was in my room two doors down and I heard Lila scream in disbelief As I walked into the crime scene, I knew what had to have gone down Lissa walked out of Connell, a champion that day I wish all the luck to Lissa and her opponents in the final rounds of this sneaky game
PHOTO BY JADE WIGGINS
Holdy’s Hot Takes
BY: SCHOOL
“The School has become too soft”
“Dress down is overrated”
“Mr Graham needs to bring back the Kyries”
“The walk from Woody/ Pichette is not that bad”
“Pulled Pork is the best Lunch”
“Dress downs on Wednesday and Saturday during the winter”
“Broncos will beat the Bills”
“Bring back fart spray”
“Superstars are better than BVH”
“You should eat the Watermelon Rind”
“The cold side of the pillow is bad”
“Blue Jeans look better than brightcolored jeans” “Proctor Day should be in the Winter”
“The Coffee is fire” “Milk is better than water”
“Game times shouldn’t conflict”
“Boom boom sauce is overrated”
Spellbound
BY: EMILY BRONTË
The night is darkening round me, Thewildwindscoldlyblow; Butatyrantspellhasboundme AndIcannot,cannotgo Thegianttreesarebending Theirbareboughsweighedwith snow
And the storm is fast descending, AndyetIcannotgo Clouds beyond clouds above me, Wastesbeyondwastesbelow; Butnothingdrearcanmoveme; Iwillnot,cannotgo
Though Holderness is as welcoming of a community as could be, students are competitive in sports, academics, and unbeknownst until this year; the college process I have overheard many conversations of students comparing themselves to other students applying to the same college In addition, I occasionally catch my mind drifting to the comparisons of others in the same applicant pool Tacking on another responsibility for the seniors, most colleges require students to submit their quarter one grades – a large task resulting in a heightened amount of stress I have heard several accounts of students switching to Early Decision Two–a binding contract between the student and college that affirms the student will attend if they are admitted–due to their quarter one grades Moreover, extrinsic and intrinsic factors are just another component of deciding where to spend the next four years How should I balance the weight a college’s name carries while still choosing a school I will be happy at?
Ultimately, my journey has led me to one core principle: put in the work, and you’ll create opportunities As a young high school student, academics weren’t my top priority However, once I stepped onto Holderness’ campus, the importance of learning became clear I learned the benefits of consistency and I started to enjoy learning Now that I am fortunate enough to be in several all-senior classes it is difficult not to love academics I am so thankful that I took advantage of the opportunity I have been given and fully indulged in it – and I’ve realized I am fortunate just to have options throughout this process
PHOTOS BY MAX PARO
Berkshire also has full ownership of several insurance companies, including Geico Today, Buffett's net worth is just under $150 billion, making him the seventh wealthiest person in the United States Berkshire Hathaway has the most expensive share price of any company in history, with each Class A share (BRK-A) currently valued at $724,040 Buffett is known for his common-sense attitude, which stems from his modest middleclass upbringing He still lives in the same house he bought in 1958 for $31,500 in Omaha, Nebraska Currently worth $1 4 million, Buffett claims the house was his thirdbest investment
after his two wedding rings He eats at McDonald’s, and his previous car was a 2006 Cadillac DTS, which he had driven only 19,000 miles in eight years Currently, Buffett drives a 2014 Cadillac XTS, preferring used cars over new ones because he couldn't justify the purchase In my upcoming columns, I will explore Buffett's investment strategies, including his recent decision to sell a significant percentage of Berkshire’s Apple stock I will also return to my birth year to see what advice Buffett shared in his 2007 annual letter to shareholders In the meantime, happy investing
PREP: THE STORY OF A FICTIONAL HOLDERNESS
BY: SARAH MCADAM
Many students here may not be that into reading As for me, I would not consider myself a big reader However, I have several book recommendations, but my most recent read sticks out to me The novel, Prep, is a book about a high school girl who goes to a prestigious boarding school right outside of Boston I find this book extremely relatable as it focuses on kids at boarding schools far from home Prep follows the struggles and high school journey of the main character, Lee Fiora She is a scholarship student navigating life at the Ault School, which is based on the Groton School–just south from Holderness The book starts out with when Lee first steps onto campus and follows her through her time at Ault all
the way to graduation Throughout the book she experiences a mix of the independence and stress that comes with living away from home Sittenfeld’s descriptions bring to life the dormitories, dining halls, and classrooms that feel remarkably familiar to us at Holderness
So how do Prep and the fictional Ault relate to Holderness? There were many aspects of Prep that were similar to Holderness Some specific examples that correspond to us are dressing up for formal dinner, navigating roommate life, and athletics, filling out dorm requests, and even a mention of “table wipes,” where you must go clean up the dining hall if you are absent from a commitment, a mix between
our Payback and Job Program Though, one specific example that stood out to me was in the first part of the book when Lee was in her freshman spring Lee and her dorm mates were in the common room talking about when their “surprise holiday” would be, which is when they call off classes for the day, exactly like our own Head’s Holiday When Holderness kids suspect a Head’s Holiday coming up, we try to calculate what day it will fall on The girls in Prep did just that with their Surprise Holiday One of the older dormmates stated, “It can't be on Wednesday,” Jane said "There's games ” This is something you can hear on the path in the midst of a Head’s Day
Is it possible that you lose your own perspective when you become too consumed by the author's ideals?
As a self proclaimed POL veteran, I will now bestow upon you my unsolicited advice
You must do both – I know, surprising – but to effectively understand the message, and intonation of the poem, you must research and understand the poem to develop a greater understanding Conversely, you don’t want to go too far Keep things fun, add an original twist, surprise people (considering the fact that true veterans such as Mr Durnan have likely heard your exact poem reciting the same way, about 100 times)
Remember to keep POL fun and to make your poem your own, but that if you put some effort into researching your poem, you might be looking at a trip to D C
PHOTO BY THE TIMES & THE SUNDAY TIMES
PREP CONTINUED
Jane also makes a comment to Lee that she “ won’t need to study for that biology test ” Even fictional characters play Head’s Day Roulette
The novel explores themes of belonging, ambition, and selfreflection in ways that are relatable to some of the challenges we face here at Holderness and that students may experience at any boarding school Lee's experiences are easy to relate to, from the excitement of new opportunities to the personal growth that comes with stepping outside one ' s comfort zone and being away from home It's ultimately an honest and moving story about growing up and being a high schooler Whether you ' re interested in Lee's personal journey or the familiar setting of a boarding school, Prep is sure to make a lasting impression on everybody as a student at Holderness
Lessons of One
BY: TANNER SNYDER
Over Winter Break, I spent bits of my time building a skill I struggle with: reading A birthday gift from my Aunt, I was gifted The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay During my time reading the novel, I took note of several quotes I found meaningful Here they are:
Weld Hacks
BY: RIO GLADCHUN & JADE WIGGINS
Putting Cereal and Ice Cream in a Cup
Grab N’ Go Hidden Gems (Brown Cow Yogurt)
Chocolate Milk from Grab n ’ Go is better than the Milk Cartons
Pebble Ice is perfect for sodas and iced coffees
Chicken Caesar Wrap (when there’s premade caesar, ask for a tortilla!)
Ice Cream Sandwiches (when cookies are for dessert!)
The Clarence Sauce (we don’t know, ask Clarence?)
Rice and Butter (trust )
Real Peanut Butter in the Back! Just ask
Taco Tuesday salad bowls over tacos
Putting desserts/pastries on top of the Grab n ’ Go toaster
“Peekay,” he said, “in this world are very few things made from logic alone It is illogical for a man to be too logical Some things we must just let stand The mystery is more important than any possible explanation ”
“The searcher after truth must search with humanity Ruthless logic is the sign of a limited mind The truth can only add to the sum of what you know, while a harmless mystery left unexplored often adds to the meaning of life When a truth is not so important, it is better left as a mystery ”
“As is often the case with a legend, every incident has two possible interpretations, the plausible and the one that is molded to suit the making of the myth ”
“Mystery, not logic, is what gives us hope and keeps us believing in a force greater than our own insignificance ”
“I was, I was beginning to understand, a natural leader, and leaders, I have found, need never explain In fact, the less they explain, the more desirable they become as leaders ”
“Doc had taught me the value of being the odd man out: the man who senses that there is an essential collective sanity to humans and who assumes the role of the loner, the thinker, and the searching spirit who calls the privileged and the powerful to task The power of one was based on the courage to remain separate, to think through to the truth, and to be beguiled by convention or the plausible arguments of those who expect to maintain power ”
PHOTO BY MAX PARO
Editor’s POL Picks
1
“To David, About his Education”*
The poem that started it all for me, this one ’ s a mic-drop for your inner Socrates
“Try to praise the mutilated world” 2.
Even in the mess, there's beauty worth reciting
“Backdrop addresses cowboy”* 3
A showdown of words that’ll rope in the crowd with sharp imagery and wit, my favorite poem to date
“Tomorrow”4.
Perfect for the optimist, pessimist, or anyone who’s ever wrestled with procrastination
“Kindness” 5
A quiet powerhouse of a poem that’ll leave the audience reflecting long after the applause
“That everything’s inevitable” 6
For those who want to deliver the poetic equivalent of a haunting truth bomb
“Famous”* 7
Not about fame, but about the quiet power of being truly seen
“Siren Song” 8
Margaret Atwood should make everyone ' s POL picks, there's a reason at least one person performs “Siren Song” every year
*In my time of poetry-out-louding, I have performed these poems and they have proved to be some great picks -Rio
I regret to inform you that you have just lost The Game No, not a board game Not a video game Not even a highstakes online poker match where you went all-in on a pair of threes I’m talking about The Game the one you were winning right up until you started reading this sentence
For the once blissfully unaware, The Game is a thought experiment, a paradox, and a global conspiracy all rolled into one
The rules are as follows:
You are always playing The Game You win by not thinking about The Game
While the direct origin of the game remains somewhat of a
The Next Chapter
BY: TANNER SNYDER
Throughout the college application process, one part challenged me the most: supplemental essays To help the future senior class, us editors are launching a recurring column featuring some of our own college essays Hopefully, these examples will provide inspiration! Here's an essay I wrote for Hamilton College: I smile peeking into the metal bucket, filled to the brim with sap from the maple trees my family has tapped Since childhood, my family has made pure Vermont maple syrup Each year, I return home for spring break, eager for maple sugaring season As I’ve grown older, our sugaring process has become a fullscale operation
The breadth of our sugaring operation is not the only thing that has changed The undeniable effects of climate change have wreaked havoc on many Vermonters’ beloved spring pastimes For some, sugaring is more than a hobby: it’s a full-time profession These individuals dedicate the entire year to preparing for the season, only to see their efforts undermined by the changing climate The season has become unpredictable, making it difficult to rely on consistent timing throughout the spring, undermining Vermonters’ beloved tradition As a result, I am empowered to take action in order to slow the process of global warming: us Vermonters rely on it I will bring this passion to Hamilton,
engaging in student government to better strengthen my skill set for life after college Through classes such as Congressional Politics, The American Political Process, and hands-on Washington D C internships I will be wellequipped to face climate change head-on Ultimately, the process brings my family together, offering a rare chance to connect amidst busy lives For my sister and me, who both attend boarding school, it’s an opportunity to reunite and share a passion for turning hard work into something tangible With the effects of climate change threatening to eradicate a meaningful tradition, I feel responsible for putting out my best work possible in order to do my part
You’ve Lost The Game
mystery, Some say The Game has existed for decades; others claim it’s an ancient test of patience handed down by mischievous philosophers
Either way, the only thing that matters is this: you ’ re now stuck with it Forever Now that The Game has reentered your consciousness like an unskippable YouTube ad, let’s talk about how it spreads People don’t just play The Game they weaponize it
The moment you know of the existence of this thought virus, you become part of the problem You see the word “ game ” , a friend brings it up, you read this article, or pay an ill-advised
BY: RIO GLADCHUN
visit to Losethegame net, which exists solely to ruin your day Don’t say I didn’t warn you
The game will overtake you, whether or not you think it will However, to believe that you won’t even acknowledge the game is to succumb to the first stage of losing: denial Then, “Why did that person have to bring this up!?” – yeah –anger Next, bargaining, preparing to make others lose to make yourself feel better Then comes the depression of nowing you will never again be at peace, and lastly acceptance, embrace the chaos and drag your friends down with you Now that you have effectively lost –
for the time being – your only true option is to spread the misery at any degree of intensity you so please Text a friend Bring it up in casual conversation Slip it into a speech Scribble You just lost The Game on a bathroom stall like some kind of existential graffiti artist Share this article with someone who looks too comfortable Because in the end, The Game isn’t about winning or losing it’s about dragging everyone down with you Congratulations on your new found power, or is it your new achilles’ heel? We don’t really know
We hope you enjoyed reading the second issue of The Picador! We are so thankful for everyone who contributed writing, photos, and effort in the creation of The Picador.
A big thank you to Mr. Kwasnik and Max Paro for the amazing images used throughout the issue! We would love to feature YOUR work in The Picador’s next edition!
Letusknowifyouhaveanyart orphotographyyouwanttosee featuredinthePicador!
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